65 m37 project

[Drew65]

Hi guys just picked up 65 m37 in March . Overall in fair condition it is just a roller with m880 axles and hummer tires and rims appears to have been someone’s mud toy has a small set of swing type pedals mounted . center trans cover and transmission but the priced right

 

[Drew65]

Went to see why front wheels don’t want to spin . Turns out hummer rims don’t have enough clearance to clear tie rod ends so I was gonna put 1/4” wheel spacers on it to see if it would clear. Jacked the truck up and took wheel off . Big let down the hummer tires are like brand new still have the mold tabs on them and they are full of something they weigh about 400 lbs each and are hard as concrete

 

[Drew65]

Here’s one of the tires

 

[deathrowdave]

Foam as used on the farm for thorns

 

[Drew65]

Hmm is it something that can be removed ?

 

[deathrowdave]

All I have ever used , once it sets up , it’s there for the duration . Expensive to have installed . That’s a damn shame , tires are new . My Buddy added some to his tractor fronts . He loaned it to friend that drove it 20 miles on hard top road . When he returned the tractor all that was remaining were the sidewalls and foam . That stuff is heavy heavy stuff . I have a 79 W200 Power Wagon , Cummins, Nv4500 , Np205 and Dana 60s with lockers . I never use it to play with just on the road and farm use . I would love to locate a nice M37 to swap my drive train into . My body is rusty as all are where I live .

 

[Drew65]

Thanks for the input deathrowdave sounds like a good setup in your w200 funny thing is I am using 79 w200 as a donor truck wish it had a Cummins though

 

[Drew65]

Couple more pics of donor

 

[deathrowdave]

Wow , seems as the later axles fit nicely onto the early springs . Does the width seem to be correct ? What year was the W200 you are using for a donor ? What are you doing for power steering ? I’m going to have to follow this post . Near what I wanted to do . My truck has 3.54 gears , it gets 25 MPG all day long . If you need any parts for the W200 , I have parted out a few of these and have stashed some parts . Have you given any thinking about swapping the NP 203 to a NP 205 while you are tinkering ?

 

[deathrowdave]

 

[deathrowdave]

This is my old tank , it was a forestry truck out of Penn . Hydraulic 20K winch , Cummins , NV4500 , NP205 , Dana 60 both ends

 

[Drew65]

View attachment 824174

 

[Drew65]

Nice truck! I used rear springs and mounts from 79 w200 two bolt holes lined up with existing frame had to drill the rest . front springs had to outboard the mounts . I’m using the power steering of the donor it seems to work but I think tires over 33” will rub at full right lock with the stock 79 rims . I’ve seen on this site that they use a 76 dodge steering gear box seems like a better way should have researched more . I’m going to be using it as a daily driver type truck as far as 203 I may change later on my goal is to get it going and change items as needed. But so far I’m amazed how many parts from my 79 donor truck are fitting with little mods

 

[deathrowdave]

Early steering box is the answer , you will need frame mount and drag link , and good to go . I’ll be watching your posts , I’d like to do this to my old tank some day .

 

[Drew65]

This is the 79 steering box mounted will probably change later

 

[deathrowdave]

Looks great , it should work fine , with other wheels . I’d like to fine a nicer M37 near , I’d be doing the same thing . My old truck has AC also . Probably easier to swap a cap . But they are getting tough to locate also . I have seen were the cab and bed from the M37 swapped onto to later frame looked fairly easy also .

 

[Drew65]

Sad about the tires put donor truck tires on to move it into shop

 

[Drew65]

Crusty old 318 before and after I rebuilt it

 

[deathrowdave]

Nice work

 

[Drew65]

Thanks ! Here’s a couple more pictures